INTERCOUNTY LEAGUE
(May 21) Toronto Maple Leafs made a successful debut in the Intercounty League notching a 6-5, 10-inning win over Hamilton in their season opener at Christie Pits. Warren Hanks doubled as a pinch-hitter in the 10th and Bill Shea, another pinch-hitter, punched out a single to score Hanks with the winner. Fred Hansen had a two-run single and a run-scoring double in helping the Leafs to an early 5-1 lead. In the 9th, the Red Wings knotted the count at 5-5 as Henry Romanowski's single knocked in Gary Newitt with the tying run. Tom Klamas started for the Leafs, giving way to Terry Iceton in the 8th. Bob Smyth came on in the 9th.
xxx and xxx
Klamas, Iceton (8), Smyth (9) and xxx
(May 23) London Pontiacs (1-0) kicked off the new season with a 5-2 victory over Guelph CJOYs at Labatt Park. A five-run first inning proved enough for the win. Four of the first five men up for London notched hits and rookie Dave Hall had the big blow, a bases-clearing double. Lefty Don Martin scattered seven hits in going the distance for the win. He fanned seven and issued four free passes. Shortstop Jim Rodrigues had three hits for London, Brian Pearen, Paul Allen and Arden Eddie each had a pair. Jim Baker knocked in both runs for Guelph with a 4th inning double. Dave Heffernan collected three safeties for the losers.
Sleeman (L 0-1) and Noonan
Martin (W 1-0) and Fenlon
(May 25) Pitcher Bill McAlpine belted a grand slam home run in the 8th inning to carry his Listowel Legionnaires to a 9-4 victory over Toronto Maple Leafs at Christie Pits. McAlpine, an import from Flint College in Michigan, had replaced starter Dale Fleischauer in the 2nd inning. Listowel took advantage of three Toronto errors to plate two unearned runs in the first and two more in the 4th. Toronto scored its first run in the 2nd after Al Mugford advanced to first on a passed ball, advanced on Bill Shea's double and scored on Jerry Sinclair's sacrifice. Leafs plated another pair in the 7th before McAlpine put the game out of reach.
Fleischauer, McAlpine (W) (2) and xxx
xxx, xxx and Bell
(May 25) Kitchener 13 Galt 10
(May 25) Hamilton 5 Guelph 0
(May 30) A six-run 8th inning carried London (2-0) to an 8-7 win over Kitchener Panthers in Senior Intercounty League action. Dick Ouderkerk, Jim Rodrigues and Whitey Lapthorne each had a two-run single in the big inning. Catcher Wayne Fenlon led the winners with three hits. Kitchener cut the margin to 8-7 with two outs in the 9th as Ken Farrish tripled in Paul Hoak. But Dave Hammond came on to get a ground out to end the game.
McKillop (L), Gagnon (8) and xxx
xxx (W), Hammond (9) and Fenlon
(May 31) Guelph CJOYs dumped Stratford 6-1 Saturday for their first win of the season. Playing manager Jim Baker and winning pitcher Robbie Sleeman each had two hits for the winners.
Sleeman (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(June 01) American college pitcher Dave Moharter impressed in his debut in the Intercounty League. The Bloomsbury, Pennsylvania, College student pitched five innings in relief to pick up the win Sunday in (3-0) London's 10-4 victory over Toronto Maple Leafs. Moharter fanned ten after replacing starter John Cook in the 2nd inning. It was the Pontiacs' third straight win.
Cook, Moharter (W 1-0) (2), Murphy (8) and Fenlon
Klamas (L 0-1), Smyth, Hornby and Trigiani
(XXX) London (4-0)
(June 05) Kitchener 6 Hamilton 4
(June 06) London (5-0?) 3 Listowel 2
(June 08) Guelph at Toronto
(June 10) Listowel Legionnaires stopped London's (5-1) five-game winning streak with a 7-2 triumph before the home fans. Ed Kasteva's grand slam homer in the first inning gave Listowel a lead the club never relinquished. Kasteva's homer, with two out, came after singles to Phil Garelik and Rick DeMarchi and a walk to Bob Zister. In the 7th, Kasteva knocked in another run with a triple. Paul Allen was the big hitter for London with three safeties, including a triple.
Martin (L 2-1), Moharter (5) and Fenlon
McAlpine (W 2-0) and Bell
(June 10) Hamilton Red Wings punched out 15 hits and took advantage of 10 errors to trounce Toronto 14-1. The Wings, now with a 2-3 record, broke loose for six runs in each of the 4th and 7th innings. Trevor Madden went seven innings for the win. Keith Howard, a juvenile making his first appearance, handled the last two frames. Henry Romanowski, Bob Aitken and Phil Duffey each had three hits for the winners.
Madden (W), Howard (8) and Romanowski
xxx and xxx
(June 10) Kitchener 13 Guelph 2
(June 10) Stratford 6 Galt 2
(June 11) Kitchener Panthers sent Toronto Maple Leafs to their 5th consecutive defeat Wednesday topping the Leafs 6-4 at Christie Pits. Reliever Bob Hopper was a hero for the winners. He took over for starter Nelson Dufour with the bases loaded and none out in the bottom of the 9th inning and retired the side without a run. Bob McKillop, the Panthers' playing-manager, had three hits and drove in a pair. Bob Smyth took the loss.
Dufour (W), Hopper (9) and xxx
Smyth (L) and xxx
(June 11) A six-run 4th inning was enough to give London (6-1) a 7-3 win over Hamilton Red Wings. It was the 6th win in seven games for London while Hamilton suffered its 5th loss in seven games. The game was played under protest after two were out in the 9th inning. London pitcher Rick Birmingham and Hamilton's Henry Romanowski wrestled at home plate after a bat was thrown all the way to the pitchers' mound. Both benches emptied and several skirmishes developed before peace was restored. Both Birmingham and Romanowski were ejected. Dick Ouderkerk, Wayne Fenlon and Paul Allen each had two hits for the Pontiacs. Phil Duffey had a pair for Hamilton.
Carrigan (L 1-2), Duffey (8) and Romanowski
Birmingham (W 1-0), Murphy (9) and Fenlon
(June 13) A bases-loaded triple by pitcher Brian Murphy sparked London (7-1) to an 8-4 victory over Stratford Hoods Friday at Labatt Park. It was the Pontiacs' 7th win in eight games and moved the club a game and a half ahead of second-place Kitchener. The score was 2-2 in the 6th frame when Murphy knocked in three runs with his big blow. He later scored on Dave Hall's single. London added a pair in the 7th. Hall and Ty Crawford each had two hits for the Pontiacs. Stratford starter Mark Boyd took the loss.
Boyd (L 1-2), Scheel (7) and Oliver
Murphy (W 2-0) and Fenlon
Kitchener 2 Listowel 0
Hamilton 5 Stratford 4
London 7-1
Kitchener 7-2
Stratford 3-3
Listowel 3-4
Hamilton 4-5
Guelph 4-7
Toronto 2-5
Galt 2-5
(June 13) Toronto Maple Leafs built up a 5-0 lead and held on to top Galt Terriers 5-3 in Intercounty action at Christie Pits. Hugh Harris went the route allowing seven hits. Bill Dempsey's 3rd inning double knocked in Randy McDonald with the Leafs' first run. The next batter, Ross Armour, doubled to left to plate Dempsey. Gerry Sinclair singled to centre to score Armour and give Toronto a 3-0 margin. Brian Revin belted a homer with Bill Shea on base in the 4th to complete the Toronto scoring.
xxx and xxx
Harris (W) and xxx
(June 14) Kitchener shaded the CJOYs 7-6 in Senior Intercounty action at Guelph.
(June 15) Rain saved the day for the Toronto Maple Leafs in their scheduled encounter with Stratford Sunday at Christie Pits. Down 8-0 after 2 1/2 innings, a downpour forced a postponement.
(June 17) Toronto at Kitchener, London at Stratford, Galt at Listowel, Guelph at Hamilton.
(June 18) Galt 4 Guelph 2
(June 19) Hamilton 5 Stratford 4
(June 20) Dave Hall, Brian Pearen and Whitey Lapthorne each had four hits in leading London (8-1) to a total of 22 hits in a 16-4 rout of Toronto Maple Leafs. Lapthorne's hits included a triple as he drove in three runs. Pearen also knocked in three while Hall had two RBI on a double and sacrifice fly. Winning pitcher Dave Moharter helped his cause with a triple and single. He scattered seven hits for his third straight win. He compiled 10 strike outs while allowing four free passes. It was London's 8th win in nine games. Starter Bob Smyth took the loss for the Leafs
Smyth (L), Iceton (6), Hansen (7) and Trigiani, Dempsey (5)
Moharter (W 3-0) and Fenlon, Fuller (9)
(June 21) In Guelph Saturday, Ron Stead, just reinstated by the Ontario Baseball Association, pitched Guelph to a 15-3 win over Toronto. Stead allowed two runs on a walk and two hits in the 1st inning but didn't allow another base runner until the 9th when a walk and two more hits accounted for the final Toronto run.
Klamas (L), Hornby and xxx
Stead (W) and xxx
(June 21) Rick Birmingham fired a three-hitter as London whipped Galt 10-1.
Birmingham (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(June 22) Galt Terriers dumped Toronto Maple Leafs 12-7 in Intercounty action at Christie Pits. Terriers pounded out 21 hits in gaining the decision. Doug Hubert, with late help from Gord Peterson, registered the pitching win.
Hubert (W), Peterson (7) and xxx
Hanson (L), Iceton (4), Klamas (5), Sinclair and xxx
(XXX) London (9-1)
(XXX) London (9-2)
(June 25?) Paul Allen's bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 9th inning gave London (10-2) a 4-3 win over Galt in a Senior Intercounty League contest at Labatt Park. Mike Lerner led off the frame with a walk and winning pitcher Dave Moharter followed with a single. With one out, Dave Pearen's double scored Lerner with the tying marker. Whitey Lapthorne drew a walk to fill the sacks and Allen, the 26-year-old third baseman, belted one to the fence in straight-away left field to plate the winner. Moharter scattered eight hits to register the win, his fourth. Three of the hits came in the 5th inning when the Terriers scored all their runs. Roger DeWaele led Galt with a double and single.
Peterson (L) and Wilson
Moharter (W 4-0) and Fenlon
(June 25) Hamilton 3 Guelph 2
(June 26) Kitchener 7 Stratford 6
(June 26) The Legionnaires edged Toronto 2-1 at Listowel. Bob Chidester scattered nine hits to pick up the win. Leaf manager Jim Liness was ejected in the 9th inning for disputing an umpire's decision. Bob Smyth fired a three-hitter for Toronto in taking the tough-luck loss.
Smyth (L) and xxx
Chidester (W), Kellman and xxx
(June 26) Kitchener 7 Stratford 5
(June 29) The Senior Intercounty All-Stars and Kingston Centennials advanced to the final of the Ontario Baseball Association tournament to decide the province's representative at the Canada Games in Halifax. The All-Stars clobbered Bowmanville 14-2 Saturday while the Centennials got by Niagara District 9-7. In semi-final games, the Intercounty All-Stars blanked Orillia 3-0 and Kingston shaded Leaside Leafs 2-1.
(July 01) Paul Knight put his name in the record books firing a no-hitter for Kitchener-Waterloo Panthers in a 13-0 victory over Toronto Maple Leafs. The right-hander, with six victories on the season, fanned nine and walked two. Dave Smallwood's first inning grand slam homer was the game's big blow. Dennis Dupere and Tom McKenzie each had three hits. Knight added a pair of singles. The win moved the Panthers to within a half game of first-place London. For the Leafs, it was their 10th loss of the season. Panthers sit at 10-3.
xxx and xxx
Knight (W 6-0) and xxx
(July 02) Hamilton at Galt, London at Guelph
(July 03) Hamilton 13 Kitchener 7
(July 05) Bill Shea singled in Ross Armour with the winning run in the 10th inning to hand Toronto a 6-5 victory over Galt. Armour had singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Gord Roche. Bob Smyth picked up the win in relief of starter Tom Klamas. Gib Simpson's 8th inning homer for the Terriers had sent the game into extra innings. Lefty John Conway took the loss.
Klamas, Smyth (W) (5) and Dempsey
Hubert, Conway (L) (8) and Wilson
(July 05) Kitchener exploded for seven runs in the 7th inning to down Guelph 9-5. The win was the seventh straight for the Panthers' Paul Knight. Hugh Heibein got the Panthers on the scoreboard in a hurry belting Ron Stead's first pitch for a homer. Bob McKillop blasted a three-run homer in the explosive 7th. Dave Heffernan had a homer and double for Guelph.
Knight (W 7-0) and Cook
Stead (L) and Romanowski
(July 05) Barry Hutton hurled a four-hitter as Hamilton blanked Stratford Hoods 3-0. Bobby Aitken and Terry Harvey each had two hits for the winners.
xxx and xxx
Hutton (W 1-0) and xxx
(July 06) George Minarsky's sacrifice fly in the 6th inning scored Gord Roche with the winning run as Toronto shaded Guelph 4-3 at Christie Pits. With more than 1,000 fans on hand, Hugh Harris held the CJOYs to just five hits in taking the win. With the game tied 3-3 in the top of the 6th, Guelph lost an opportunity to take the lead when Al Etchells, who came home from third on a sacrifice fly, was called out for leaving third too early.
xxx and xxx
Harris (W) and xxx
(July 6) Ty Crawford singled in Brian Pearen with the winning run in the 8th inning as London shaded Stratford 3-1. Dave Moharter won his 5th straight. He fanned seven and walked four. Roger Coryell took the loss although he held the Pontiacs to just five hits and had 11 strikeouts. He issued six free passes. London manager Roy McKay and Paul Allen were ejected in the first inning for protesting a call.
Moharter (W 5-0) and Fenlon
Coryell (L), Boyd (9) and Oliver
(XXX London (12-2)
(July 08) Stratford 10 Galt 1, London 12 Hamilton 7
(July 08) Bill McAlpine pitched and batted Listowel to an 8-0 triumph over Toronto. The import from Flint College in Michigan allowed just five hits while fanning ten. At the plate, he knocked in three runs with a two-run homer and two singles. Bob Smyth took the loss after allowing seven runs in the first inning.
Smyth (L), Sinclair (2) and xxx
McAlpine (W) and xxx
(July 09) Pitcher Brian Murphy cracked a two-run double to break a 4-4 tie in the 7th inning to push London (14-2) to a 7-4 victory over Stratford Hoods at Labatt Park Wednesday. It was the 14th win in 16 games for London. The 22-year-old Murphy entered the game in the 4th inning in relief of starter Don Martin and scattered four hits and blanked the Hoods in the six innings he worked. Dave Hall led London with three hits, including a pair of doubles. Brian Pearen and Paul Allen each had two hits for the Pontiacs and Jack Taylor and Jerry Quinn each had a pair for Stratford.
Appel (L 2-1), Scheel (7) and Oliver
Martin, Murphy (W 4-1) and Fenlon
(July 09) Toronto's Gord Roche had a one-hitter for five innings at Guelph Wednesday, but fell apart in the 6th as Guelph exploded for eight runs on the way to a 15-4 victory. John Skinner led the CJOYs attack with three hits, a triple and double included. Guelph got three-run homers from Ron Gumbley and Dave Heffernan. Lorne Carson went seven innings for his fourth win. Joe Metcalf had three hits for Toronto.
Roche (L), xxx and Dempsey
Carson (W), xxx (8) and xxx
(July 10) Hamilton 7 Kitchener 6
(July 11) Toronto at London ppd.
(July 12) Toronto Maple Leafs fell to 4-14 in dropping a 12-5 decision to Stratford on Saturday at Christie Pits. Hoods took advantage of 13 walks and four errors to claim the victory.
xxx (W) and xxx
Roche (L), Harris (4), Shea (7) and xxx
(July 12) A three-run 5th inning carried London (15-2) to a 6-3 win over Guelph as Dave Moharter went the distance for his 6th consecutive victory. He fanned 12 and walked 6. A three-run outburst in the 5th inning, powered by Wayne Fenlon's homer, proved enough for the victory. Fenlon, Ty Crawford, Paul Allen and Arden Eddie each had two hits for the winners.
Moharter (W 6-0) and Fenlon
Sleeman (L 1-7) and Romanowski
(July 12) Phil Garelik drove in five runs with three hits to lead Listowel to a 10-8 victory over Galt. Bill McAlpine went the distance for the win, his 6th without a defeat. He allowed just six hits, but walked six, fired five wild pitches and the Legionnaire defense made eight errors. Gord Peterson took the loss.
McAlpine (W 6-0) and Bell
Peterson (L 4-5), Davis (6) and Wilson
(July 14? ) London Pontiacs (16-2) scored a pair in the top of the 9th inning and held on for a 5-4 win over Kitchener Monday. With the win, London moved three and one half games up on the Panthers in the battle for top spot. With two out in the 9th, Brian Pearen doubled and scored on Arden Eddie's single. Eddie advanced on the throw to the infield and notched the winner on Paul Allen's single. Panther's had taken a 3-1 lead in the 3rd inning on a three-run homer by Tom Hoch. Dave Moharter was the winner in relief of starter Graham Ballantine.
Ballantine, Moharter (W 7-0) (6) and Fenlon
Heinbuch (L) and McKillop
(July 15) Hamilton Red Wings moved to within a game of second place in the Senior Intercounty League standings with a 4-1 victory over Toronto Maple Leafs. Barry Hutton allowed just two hits over seven innings to capture the mound victory. Ron Carrigan hurled the final two innings. Hamilton, with eight wins in its last ten games, now sits with a 10-7 record. Kitchener is at 11-6. Bob Aitken and Jack Roberts each poked a double for Hamilton. Toronto's only run came on a 7th inning homer by John Trigiani. Bob Smyth took the loss.
Smyth (L), xxx (8) and xxx
Hutton (W), Carrigan (8) and xxx
(July 16) Kitchener at Hamilton, Stratford at Listowel ?
(July 16) Galt 5 Hamilton 4 ?
(July 19) Galt Terriers pounded Toronto hurlers for 23 hits, nine for extra bases, in trouncing the Leafs 24-4 Saturday at Galt. Mel Kennedy, a recent cut from the Montreal farm system, knocked in five runs with a pair of homers in his second game with the Terriers. Roger DeWaele added a homer and triple good for six runs batted in. John Trigiani and Gerry Sinclair had homers for Toronto.
Smyth (L x-8) and xxx
Conway, Hubert (W 3-0) (4) and xxx
(July 20) Danny Camp fired a two-hitter as Listowel shutout Toronto 5-0 at Christie Pits. Camp's 17 strikeouts were a career high. The Flint (Michigan) College student chalked up this third win without a loss. Listowel first scored in the 5th on Brian Bell's double then added three in the 7th on a triple by Rick DeMarchi, double by Bill McAlpine and four walks. They rounded out the scoring with a tally in the 8th. Mike Albright, making his first start for the Leafs, was saddled with the loss.
Camp (W 3-0) and xxx
Albright (L 0-1), Sinclair (7), Roche (9) and xxx
(July 22) Toronto 3 Stratford 1, Galt 4 Hamilton 3
(July 23) Gord Roche allowed just four hits, but the Toronto defense allowed six unearned runs and Kitchener Panthers walked away with a 7-6 victory at Christie Pits. Panthers notched the winner in the 9th as Joe Ethier poked a pinch-hit double and, after two outs and an intentional walk, Dave Smallwood's grounder to second got away from John Osbourne and Ethier scored the decisive marker. Leafs allowed three runs in the first inning on two singles, a walk, two passed balls and two wild pitches. Kitchener added two in the 3rd inning on an error by shortstop Joe Metcalfe. Ed Beitz belted a homer in the 4th.
xxx and xxx
Roche (L) and xxx
(July 25) London 9 Galt 6, Listowel 5 Kitchener 2
(July 26?) Guelph 5 Stratford 1, Kitchener 2 Galt 1
(July 27?) London and Toronto
(July 28) Paul Allen clouted a two-run homer and knocked in another with a single to lead London Pontiacs (18-3) to a 7-0 triumph over Toronto Maple Leafs Monday at Labatt Park. Graham Ballantine, making only his second start of the season, went the distance on a nine-hitter in blanking the Leafs. Ty Crawford extended his hitting streak to 15 games.
Smyth (L 2-10) and Liness
Ballantine (W 1-0) and Fenlon
(July 29) Listowel 5 Galt 2, Guelph at Hamilton ppd.
(July 29?) Stratford Hoods came from behind with three runs in the 8th inning to top London (18-4) 4-3 Tuesday night at Stratford. They combined three hits, a walk, sacrifice fly and wild pitch for their three markers. Brian Bell had two hits, one a double, for the Hoods. Whitey Lapthorne poked a two-run, inside-the-park homer for the Pontiacs. Lapthorne also had a double. Ty Crawford added a double and single and Brian Pearen had a pair of two-baggers. Doug Landreth held London to seven hits in posting his first win of the season after four defeats. Doug Poole started for the Pontiacs and pitched into the 8th giving way to Dave Hammond with one out and the bases loaded. Bailey Oliver's sac fly netted one run and a Hammond wild pitch allowed another to score before Bell's game-winning blast.
Poole (L), Hammond (8), Murphy (8) and Fenlon
Landreth (1-4) and Oliver
(July 29) Paul Knight pitched a four-hit shutout as Kitchener topped Toronto 3-0. It was the second straight shutout over Toronto for the right-hander. Knight fanned 12 and walked none. It was his 9th win against just one loss. Losing pitcher Gerry Sinclair allowed seven hits.
Sinclair (L) and xxx
Knight (W 9-1) and xxx
(July 30) Stratford at Galt
(July 30) Hamilton Red Wings rallied for three runs in the 9th inning to shade Toronto Maple Leafs 4-3. With two out and Larry Cunningham on first, Phil Duffey walked and Bill Reynolds singled to load the bases. Rick Holt singled and the ball scooted by John Trigiani in centre allowing three runs to score. Toronto took the lead in the first on Trigiani's two-run homer. Leafs added one in the 5th as Gord Roche knocked in Brian Revin.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(July 31) Hamilton 11 Guelph 3 at Hamilton
(Aug 01) In the opening game of the All-Ontario baseball tournament, Guelph CJOYs topped Leaside Maple Leafs 4-2. Ron Gumbley was the offensive star for the winners with four hits, including the winning blast, a two-run homer in the 7th inning.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(Aug 06) Galt 11 Guelph 5, Listowel 9 Hamilton 0
(Aug 06?) Brian Murphy had a no-hitter into the 7th inning, finishing with a one-hit performance, as London (19-4) topped Kitchener 4-0 to clinch at least a tie for the Senior Intercounty League pennant. A single by Eddie Beitz with one out in the 7th was the lone safety against Murphy who struck out eight and walked four. It was his 5th win in seven decisions. Dave Hall knocked in three runs, one coming on an inside-the-park homer in the 6th inning. Ty Crawford ran his hitting streak to 17 games with a double and two singles.
Krulicki (L 0-2) and Cook
Murphy (W 5-2) and Fenlon
(Aug 08) Stratford 5 Listowel 4
(Aug 08) Ty Crawford's three-run homer sparked a 10-run London (20-4)explosion in the 7th inning as the Pontiacs whipped Guelph 15-5 to capture their second straight Intercounty League pennant. Crawford's tape-measure blast cleared the left field fence and landed in the Thames River. CJOYs had driven London starter Graham Ballantine from the hill in the top of the 7th with a five-run rally to knot the count at 5-5. Brian Murphy, in a relief role, picked up the win, his second in three nights.
Fallan (L 0-5), Bondy (7) and Romanowski, Nunan (7)
Ballantine, Murphy (W 6-2) (7) and Fenlon, Boughner (9)
(Aug 09) In a stunning finish to an offensive exhibition, Guelph scored seven times in the bottom of the 9th inning to upend Listowel 14-13. Dave Fleischauer walked in the winning run. The CJOYs had trailed 9-0 after two innings and were down 13-7 going into their final at bats. Bill McAlpine paced the Legionnaires' attack with four hits, including a home run. Dave Heffernan had three hits for Guelph. Dick Bondy was the winner, in relief.
Cherwaty, DeMarchi (5), Fleischauer (L) (9) and Bell
Carson, DiCarlo (2), Kovac (6), Bondy (W) (9) and Bard, Nunan (6)
(Aug 09) Gord Peterson blanked Stratford on six hits as Galt topped the Hoods 7-0. Jim Detlor led the offense with three hits, one a homer, and four runs batted in. Roger DeWaele had three hits.
Landreth (L 1-5), Boyd (6) and Oliver
Peterson (W 7-6) and Wilson, DeWaele (7)
(Aug 09) Dave Moharter struck out 14 in winning his 7th game as London (21-4) downed Galt 7-5. Pontiacs scored twice in the 8th frame to break a 5-5 tie. Dave Hall knocked in the winner with his third hit and third run batted in of the game. Paul Allen had two hits including a two-run homer.
Moharter (W 7-1) and Crawford
Coughlin (L 0-4), Peterson (9) and Wilson
(Aug 10) London manager Roy McKay made his pitching debut a winning one Sunday as the Pontiacs (22-4) punched out 18 hits in a 14-8 triumph over Toronto. Arden Eddie, Paul Allen and Fred Fickling clouted homers for the winners. Barry Boughner, up from the London Diamonds, had three hits and Ty Crawford added a pair of doubles. Losing pitcher Gerry Sinclair led the Leafs with three hits.
McKay (W 1-0), Ballantine (8) and Boughner
Sinclair (L 2-4) and Dempsey
(Aug 10) Kitchener's ace hurler Paul Knight won his 10th game of the season as the Panthers downed London (22-5) 3-1. Knight, with 9th inning help from Court Heinbuch, ran his mark to 10-1 scattering nine hits. Rick Birmingham dropped his first decision after four wins in spite of a seven-hitter and 15 strikeouts. Ron Smith had two hits for Kitchener, Fred Fickling had a pair for London.
Birmingham (L 4-1) and Fenlon
Knight (W 10-1), Heinbuch (9) and McKillop
(Aug 11) Listowel at Stratford
(Aug 12) Listowel at Kitchener, Stratford at Hamilton
(Aug 13) Brian Murphy fanned 18 as London (23-5) wrapped up the regular season with an 11-5 win over Listowel. He struck out the side in both the 6th and 8th innings. Murphy allowed just six hits in winning his seventh game against two losses. Fred Fickling led the 13-hit London attack with a home run and two singles. Joe Hough and Whitey Lapthorne also had four-baggers for the Pontiacs.
McAlpine (L), Fleischauer (3), Amid (8) and Bell, Lawrence (8)
Murphy (W 7-2) and Fenlon
(Aug 17) The Intercounty All-Stars blanked Newfoundland 5-0 in their opening game of the Canada Games.
(Aug 18) Ontario topped Saskatchewan 6-2 at the Canada Games. Ron Stead hurled an eight-hitter for the win. Ron Smith and Dave Heffernan each had three hits.
(Aug 19) Ontario won its 3rd straight at the Canada games defeating BC 6-3 behind the pitching of Gord Peterson. The three-hour marathon saw seven pitchers used. The contest was marred by a serious injury to Vancouver first baseman John Harr. He broke the left side of his jaw in four places when hit by a pitch from Peterson in the 7th inning.
Gord Peterson (W) and xxx
xxx and xxx
(Aug 20) At the Canada Games in Halifax, Ontario advanced to the final downing Nova Scotia 10-1 behind the six-hit pitching of Brian Murphy of London. Dave Heffernan belted a two-run homer to pace the offense. Earlier, the Intercounty squad had dropped its first match of the day 9-2 to New Brunswick.
(Aug 21) Ontario captured a gold medal and the Canadian baseball title at the Canada Games as Rick Birmingham shutout Quebec 5-0 on a three-hitter. Birmingham ran his scoreless streak to 18 innings. Four different players drove in runs - Wray Upper, Rick DeMarchi, Ron Smith and Hank Romanowski. The other marker came in on a double play. Ontario collected 14 hits, four by Roger DeWaele.
Listowel's Rick DeMarchi was the hitting star for the Ontario squad leading all hitters in the tournament with a .522 average. Rick Birmingham of London was the top pitcher.
(XXX) Catcher Bob McKillop of Kitchener is the 1969 Intercounty League batting champion. McKillop edged out London catcher Wayne Fenlon .381 to .375 to take the crown. Ty Crawford of London was third at .372 and another Pontiac, Arden Eddie, placed fourth with a .333 mark.
Bill McAlpine of Listowel led in homers with 7 and tied with McKillop and Roger DeWaele of Galt for the most RBI, with 28. DeWaele and Wray Upper of Galt led in hits, each with 37. Crawford had the most runs, 28. Eddie was second in runs scored, 27, and topped the circuit with 19 stolen bases.
Dan Camp of Listowel led the pitchers with the lowest earned run average, 1.05, in posting a 5-1 record in 60 innings of work. Dave Moharter of London was the runner-up at 1.80 while winning 8 of 9 decisions. Paul Knight of Kitchener had the best won-lost mark, 10-1, in going 87 innings for the Panthers. He finished with an ERA of 2.79.
(XXX) Kitchener Panthers placed four players on the Intercounty League's first team All-Stars. In voting by team managers, the Panthers placed first baseman Gary Ebel, outfielder Hugh Heibein, catcher Bob McKillop and right-hand pitcher Paul Knight. The pennant-winning London Pontiacs had a pair - lefty pitcher Dave Moharter and outfielder Ty Crawford. Stratford's Chris Speier claimed the shortstop slot while Terry Harvey of Galt was chosen at second base and John McTavish of Hamilton at third. Dave Heffernan of Guelph was an outfield choice and Ken Benjamin of Listowel was selected as manager.
The full teams :
First Team Second Team
C Bob McKillop KR Wayne Fenlon LDN
1B Gary Ebel KR Jim Detlor GT
2B Terry Harvey GT Mike Henry STR
3B John McTavish HM Wray Upper GT
SS Chris Speier STR Brian Pearen LDN
OF Ty Crawford LDN Arden Eddie LDN
OF Dave Heffernan GU Steve Kyle STR
OF Hugh Heibein KR Roger DeWaele GT, Gary Newitt HM
RHP Paul Knight KR Rick Birmingham LDN
LHP Dave Moharter LDN Dan Camp LS
MGR Ken Benjamin LS Rolf Scheel STR
PLAYOFFS :
(Aug 19) Hamilton Red Wings scored all their runs in the first four innings and held on to down Stratford 8-5 in the opener of their playoff series at Hamilton.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(Aug 21) Paul Knight, the Intercounty League's top hurler during the regular season with a 10-1 mark, pitched a four-hitter to lead Kitchener Panthers to a 2-1 victory over London in the third game of their playoff series. Panthers lead the set two games to one. Tom Hoch had three hits for the winners. The hard-luck loser, lefty Dave Moharter allowed just three hits.
Moharter (L) and xxx
Knight (W) and xxx
(Aug 25) London clobbered Listowel 17-0 Monday in the opening game of their best of seven playoff series. Pontiacs pounded out 15 hits in gaining the victory.
xxx and xxx
xxx and xxx
(Aug 26) With an 18-hit attack, London Pontiacs dumped Listowel 10-4 to go up two games to none in their semi-final series. Wayne Fenlon led the offensive with four hits and Paul Allen, Fred Fickling and Brian Pearen each chipped in a pair. Brian Murphy scattered 11 hits to gain the mound victory. Bryan Bell had three of the safeties for the Legionnaires.
Murphy (W) and Fenlon
Chidester (L), Norman (7), Benjamin (7) and Bell
(Aug 26) Kitchener downed Galt 6-4 in the first game of a best-of-five quarter final.
(Aug 26) Hamilton blanked Stratford 5-0 to even their series at two games apiece. Gary Newitt fired a two-hitter and fanned 13 in pitching the Red Wings to the win.
xxx and xxx
Newitt (W) and xxx
(Aug 27) The Toronto Maple Leafs, bolstered by junior stars, downed the Leaside Leafs 12-8 in an exhibition match. Toronto finished last in the Intercounty League this season while Leaside topped the Halton County circuit. Leaside took an early lead on Robbie Stevens' first inning homer but Toronto bounced back with a run in the 4th and four in the 5th. In the top of the 8th, the Toronto Leafs combined five walks, two singles and a bases-loaded triple by Bob Nelson to plate seven runs and go ahead 12-1. Leaside rallied with two out in the bottom of the 8th to punch out seven hits, including doubles by John Winters and Dean Keating to score six.
xxx and xxx
Ed Jordan, xxx (5), Duncan Wood (L) and xxx
(Aug 29) London down Listowel 4-2 to take a commanding 3-0 game lead in their best-of-seven semi-final series.
(Sept 01) Kitchener topped Galt 3-0 to win the quarter-final series three games to one.
(Sept 02) Stratford downed Hamilton 7-1 to tie the playoff series at three games apiece.
(Sept 02) Paul Allen was the London hero as the Pontiacs came from behind to shade Listowel 5-4 in 10 innings to capture their playoff series in four straight games. Allen's 10th inning sacrifice fly with the bases loaded scored Brian Pearen with the winning run. Earlier, Allen was key as London rallied from a 4-0 deficit to score two in the 7th and another pair in the 8th to tie. He tripled to scored Arden Eddie in the 7th and then scored on Ty Crawford's double to get London on the scoreboard after Bill McAlpine had fired no-hit ball for five innings. In the 8th, Allen belted a two-run homer to knot the count at 4-4.
Two skirmishes in the 7th inning led to the ejection of Listowel manager Ken Benjamin and shortstop Rick DeMarchi and London players Wayne Fenlon and Ty Crawford. In the 6th, London starting pitcher Graham Ballantine was removed from the game after throwing his batting helmet and bat following a called third strike. The ejection left the Pontiacs without a regular hurler as both Brian Murphy and Rick Birmingham were away. Barry Boughner, used sparingly as a pitcher with the Chester Pegg Juniors, took over mound duties and allowed just three hits over the last five innings to register the win. Dave Byers of the Pontiacs made a game-saving catch in the bottom of the 9th. With one out and one on base, he raced to deep left centre field on a blast by McAlpine and made a leaping catch as the ball was headed over the fence. Phil Garelik had three hits for the Legionnaires.
Ballantine, Boughner (W) (6) and Fenlon, Ouderkerk (7)
McAlpine (L) and Bell
(Sept 05) London Pontiacs dumped Leaside Leafs 8-1 to win the Ontario Baseball Association Senior A semi-final in two straight games. London now meets the winner of the Orillia-Belleville series. Arden Eddie belted a homer and single for London. Brian Murphy went the distance for the win. Ed Jordan took the loss. Bob Booth had three hits for Leaside.
Jordan (L) and xxx
Murphy (W) and xxx
(Sept 06) Kitchener downed Stratford 8-2 in the opening game of their best-of-five playoff series.
(Sept 09) Stratford downed Kitchener 3-2 to knot their semi-final series at a game apiece.
(Sept 10?) Paul Allen drove in three runs to lead London Pontiacs to a 10-1 victory over Orillia in the opening game of the Ontario Baseball Association Senior "A" final at Labatt Park Wednesday. Allen had a double and two singles as London out-hit the visitors 14-5. Whitey Lapthorne also had three hits for the winners. Rick Birmingham went the distance for the mound victory.
Dunn (L), Woodrow (6) and MacMillan
Birmingham (W) and Fenlon
(Sept 12) Kitchener Panthers blanked Stratford 2-0 to take a 2-1 game lead in their best-of-five semi-final series.
(Sept 17) London took the opening game of the Intercounty final series, 4-1.
(Sept 21) With a 6-3 victory, London Pontiacs took a 2 to 0 game advantage in the Intercounty final against Stratford.
(Sept 23) Stratford Hoods broke a 6th inning tie with a seven-run explosion and went on to trounce London 13-6 in the third game of their final series. London leads two games to one. Hoods sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning getting three hits, four walks, a wild pitch and two London errors. Brian Dahms' bases-loaded double was the key blow. Reliever Mark Boyd was the winning hurler.
xxx and xxx
Scheel, Boyd (W) (5) and xxx
(Sept 27) Orillia Majors downed London 5-2 to win the OBA series three games to two.
(Sept 28) The Intercounty final series is all tied a three games each as Stratford Hoods downed London 9-3.
(Sept 29) London Pontiacs spotted Stratford two early leads before a four-run 2nd inning helped carry the club to a 7-5 victory and the Intercounty League championship, their first title in 13 years. Stratford had scored in the top of the first and, after London replied with a marker in the bottom of the initial frame, the Hoods scored two in the 2nd to lead 3-1. First baseman Whitey Lapthorne had two hits, one a triple, drove in two and scored a pair to lead the London attack. Wayne Fenlon had three hits. Dave Hall, Arden Eddie and Fred Fickling each added two. Rick Birmingham, ailing with a sore arm, went the full nine for London giving up 12 hits and fanning a dozen. The Pontiacs' other main hurlers were absent - Dave Moharter returned to Bloomsburg College in Pennsylvania after pitching in Stratford Saturday and Brian Murphy is at the Los Angeles Kings hockey camp at Barrie. Ron Earl had four hits for Stratford giving him eight hits in his last ten at bats. Chris Speier and Larry Appel each had two safeties. Mark Boyd, who had beaten London twice in the series, was sent to the showers in the 2nd inning.
Boyd, Landreth (L) (2), Coryell (6) and Kyle
Birmingham (W) and Fenlon